Register      Login
The APPEA Journal The APPEA Journal Society
Journal of Australian Energy Producers
RESEARCH ARTICLE (Non peer reviewed)

Analysis and characterisation of petroleum source rocks in Queensland

Alison Troup A B and Justin Gorton A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Geological Survey of Queensland, Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Level 3, 1 William Street, Brisbane, Qld 4000, Australia.

B Corresponding author. Email: alison.troup@dnrm.qld.gov.au

The APPEA Journal 57(2) 806-809 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ16170
Accepted: 17 March 2017   Published: 29 May 2017

Abstract

A project to improve the understanding of petroleum source rocks across Queensland’s basins was proposed through the Industry Priorities Initiative. The study has identified new source rocks, improved characterisation of known source rocks, and examined their potential as unconventional reservoirs. Round 2 of the project sampled known source rock formations in the Adavale, Bowen, Cooper and Eromanga basins, all with proven petroleum potential. Forty-eight samples from these basins were screened through Rock-Eval and total organic carbon by LECO to determine candidates for further analysis. Pyrolysis gas chromatography was conducted on selected samples (n = 15) to understand the bulk chemical signatures of kerogens with fluids extracted to derive isotopic and biomarker signatures. Organic petrology (n = 11) examined kerogen components and reflectance. Immature samples were analysed for bulk kinetics (n = 10) to determine the stability of kerogens while some were sent for compositional kinetics (n = 7), to predict the gas to oil ratio (GOR) and saturation pressure. Some more mature samples were sent for late gas analysis (n = 6) to understand hydrocarbon generation at later stages of thermal maturation. The results indicate that the marls in the Bury Limestone may have promising potential, that the Permian coals are the principal source rocks in the Cooper and Bowen basins and that the coals and mudstones of the Birkhead Formation have potential to generate. High production index values were noted in the Bury Limestone, as well as coal and mudstone samples from the Cooper and Bowen basins, suggesting that some of these source rocks also have good retention capabilities.

Alison Troup has worked in the Geological Survey of Queensland since 2010, after graduating from the University of Queensland with a BSc (Hons) in Geology. She has worked as part of the Energy and Petroleum and Gas groups within the GSQ, where she has participated in several regional prospectivity projects. She is currently involved in the assessment of unconventional petroleum resources in Queensland and examining the source rock potential of the sedimentary basins in Queensland. She is a member of PESA and FESQ.

Justin Gorton commenced in the role of Manager, Petroleum and Gas at the Geological Survey of Queensland in 2015. Prior to this, he worked in the oil and gas industry for nearly 12 years in operational, technical and leadership roles, with experience in North America and Australia. His qualifications include a Bachelor of Science in Geological Sciences from University of Oregon and Honours from La Trobe University in Melbourne. Justin is a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), the Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia (PESA) and the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), and is on the committee for the Formation Evaluation Society of Queensland (FESQ).


References

Mahlstedt, N., and Horsfield, B. (2016). Source rock evaluation and predicted petroleum compositions related to samples from the Adavale, Bowen, Cooper and Eromanga Basins, Queensland. Report number CR 99555. Available at https://qdexguest.dnrm.qld.gov.au/portal/site/qdex/search?REPORT_ID=99555&COLLECTION_ID=999 [Verified 11 April 2017].

Mahlstedt, N., di Primio, R., Horsfield, B., and Boreham, C.J. (2015). Multicomponent kinetics and late gas potential of selected Cooper Basin source rocks. Report number CR 92159. Available at https://qdexguest.dnrm.qld.gov.au/portal/site/qdex/search?REPORT_ID=92159&COLLECTION_ID=999 [Verified 11 April 2017].

Troup, A., and Edwards, S. (2016). Source rock characterisation of under-explored regions of Queensland. The APPEA Journal 52, 580–580.